Mike Pompeo welcomes Pratt to 4th Congressional District

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PrattTribune - Pratt, KS

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Posted Jan. 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Updated Jan 15, 2013 at 9:28 AM

Posted Jan. 15, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Updated Jan 15, 2013 at 9:28 AM

Pratt, Kan.

Welcome to the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas! If you are reading this and you live in Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, or Stafford County, then I am your new congressman, Mike Pompeo. I am returning to serve a second term in the United States Congress as a result of the election last November.

The counties I just named, along with the southwestern corner of Pawnee County and the northern half of Greenwood County, have been part of the First District for many years. However, following the constitutionally required redistricting that occurred last year, all of these areas have been added to the Fourth District of Kansas as of January 3, 2013.

During the second half of last year, I travelled to many parts of the new district — Pratt and Medicine Lodge, Coldwater and Kinsley, Greensburg and St. John — and many others. These visits allowed me to meet a good number of folks and become better acquainted with the new people of the Fourth District.

Not surprisingly, these counties share much in common with the ten largely rural counties I represented before the redistricting. The entire district now possesses a rich agricultural heritage, enormous energy opportunities, and a self-reliant, commonsense people.

I am no stranger to Kansas agriculture or to this part of the state that I have not represented before. My mother was born in Beloit and was raised in Wellington. I spent many summers as kid on my Aunt JoAn and Uncle Jim's farm just north of Winfield. I have also spent time in many of these counties selling oilfield equipment and services before I came to Congress.

I serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In my first term, I have opposed the EPA's push to regulate irrigation ditches and ponds as if they were oceans or large lakes. I led the charge to stop it from banning "farm dust" like the dirt kicked up by tractors on farms and by trucks on dirt roads.

I have also opposed federal micromanagement of local school lunch programs, the Department of Labor's ridiculous attempt to stop kids from working on farms, and other excessive regulations imposed by a federal government that often does not understand the realities of our rural life here.

In addition to these production agriculture issues, I have protected the interests of rural landowners, oil and gas producers, and all of the people that depend on them for their livelihoods.

This part of Kansas is at the heart of an exciting oil and gas exploration boom in the Mississippi Lime geologic formation. Fracking of wells has been done safely and productively in Kansas for decades, and we cannot afford to let the federal government shut down a practice that promises good jobs and reliable energy.

As a veteran — Go Army! — I have also worked hard to make sure that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are well taken care of by our country both while in service and, as veterans, after returning from risking all for our nation.

Page 2 of 2 - Since I represent 17 counties, I expect that I will be able to visit your area more frequently than my predecessor, who represented nearly 70 of them.

My staff will also bring our successful "Congress in Your Community" program to the new counties in the district, providing an opportunity for you to have your constituent services needs met without traveling to our district's home office in Wichita.

We look forward to hearing from you often. I consider my position a sacred trust, and I promise that I will value your input and do my utmost to respond to your concerns as long as I serve as your congressman.